The Cruel Facts of Ragging

Ragging has always been a part and parcel of college life. since time immemorial, it has been a common practice during the commencement of the educational year. But more often than not, such practices have left the new students traumatized. That it is a platform where juniors could meet their seniors so as to cultivate a friendly relationship with them is perhaps an argument long forgotten.

Ragging has, now days, become synonymous with the mental and physical trauma, undergone by the young and innocent students. it is now perhaps a mere euphemism for cruelty perpetrated by various anti-social elements, in the garb of senior, on unsuspecting freshers. The harsh stance taken up by the Supreme Court goes on to prove this prevalent trend. As per the Supreme Court ruling, ragging is now a culpable criminal offence. Furthermore, educational institutions have now been made liable to file an FIR, when a case of ragging comes to light.

Now the question that remain is, why has ragging taken such a heinous turn? Ragging, which was supposed to be a light hearted endeavor, has now become a terror among the college aspirants. There have been innumerable cases where the new students have suffered immeasurably, due to the torturous and cruel escapades of their seniors. And the answer could lie in the fact that cruelty is imbibed within the human nature. This has, time and again, been proved through instances, steeped in various facets of life; religion and the violence instigated in its name, perhaps being the most evident instance. Religion is supposedly a means to bring its followers close to god and be in tune with spirituality. Thus violence should be a far cry from it. But this is clearly not the case. The barbaric and audacious deeds perpetrated by men, in the name of religion, has become a common trend trough out the human history.

Another example could be domestic violence. Now days, there are countless cases of violence of one spouse against another. There have been some extreme cases of cruelty heaped upon the bride, by their husbands and other relatives. These cases mar the very sanctity of marriage.

The above examples may go on to prove the inherent barbaric nature of humans. But then, we must not forget the other aspects of human nature. Though history has created many miscreants, it has also produced various apostles, sent on earth for greater good of mankind; mother Teresa being the foremost example. And one must not view this as a rarest among rare case. Because, though common man is capable of brutality, he also has in him, a humanistic streak.

Supreme Court’s stringent laws on ragging, or on various other aspects, might not help in controlling and curbing the basic instincts of man. So it is really up to us common mortals, to decide whether to give voice to our crude side, or rise up to our true humane nature.